PH0RMIUM TENAX.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 4, 28 June 1845, Page 2

PHORMIUM TENAX.

Report of the Belfast Flax Improvement Society!.? Committee, as to the specimen of New Zea and Flax, submitted la them from the Conned of the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland. Belfast, 31st July, 1843. The plant Phormium Tenax, or New Zealand Flax hdd been inn oduced into lielaiid some 35 )eais since, and specimens of it aie now flouMsliing in the neighbourhood of Belfast, raised from seed obtained by the late Mr. Templeton, F.L.S. Theie are plants of it also in the Royal Botanical Garden of Belfast, it appears to be of a hardy nature, and to find the soil and climate of this country, so far congenial, that it is equally thriving on the heavy and light soils, but the wet or boggy giounds will not suit it, though this might ft nm the appearance of the plant be inferi cd. ltb vegetative power seems vigorous and health), >et the aveia^e length of the leat does not exceed two feet and a half, which is about Oiie half of that attained in its naiive soil, and it t'ds never been observpd to flower and seed, though readily ptopo o ated by off setts. A quanut) of the plant in its dried state svias also imported a tew \ea>s since, and was subjected to a variety of experiments, but nothing was elicited, that led to any satisfactory issue, from the difficulty of removing the mucilaginous bark or covering of the fibre. The most successful pai ties in affecting this « ci c two gentlemen in Armagh, wz.-Mf. Goidon, I and Mr Burns, the latter gentleman, (a chemist) ! appealed sanguine that it could readily he pie- , paied in large quantities, and that the product !<tb testified b) the sample he pi evented, (of which | a small portion accompanies this lepoit), would ! surpass in beauty any mateiial for spinning | tuiead hitherto known, but he leqnired so huge a bonus Ibi the disclosuie of his process, that no company or individual were induced to agiee to his terms. ' Tiiat the New Zealand Flax is the stiongest vegetable fibre we are jet acquainted with, is unquestionable, its tenacity being such that it will I bear a direct strain of at least three times the amount that the best Flax could endure. It i& also capable of very minute subdivision of itsfibtes, and consequently could be adapted to spinning any number of yat us, by methods known lo tLe aforesaid paities of Awmigh, or piobably 1 lie rubbing process as in practice for the Italian he'i'ps mu,!.t suit its tiealment. Fiotn its piesent haish husky appearance, it is still a doubtful point however, if this fibre ■would diaw sufficiently freel) to be spun by I machinery. I Thai its natme being brittle, even supposing lit can be spun, it is unfitted appaienlly for turnling a selv ige in weaving, oi to bear being I knotted.

In proof of this, let the simple expeiunent be tiied, of firmly tjing a knot on a consumable quantity of stiand, and then be suddenly jeiked, ■when it will be found to part asunder readil), though previously to the knot being put on it, the strongest hands or arms would fail to sever it. It is however just possible that great impiovenaent may be the result of Ja better s) stem for pieparmg it being discovered, giving a moie 3 ielding and pliable nature. In its present state, as a substitute for hemp, it might possibly be found to answer in rope manufacturing on a large scale, or might mix with it, and thus its introduction into Ireland might be found useful, if its cultivation be found adapted to our poorer soils, and that it can be readily raised fi om heed annually imported. But the question aiises, what are the objects and inducements for introducing it ? The East India Flax, or Fute, the product of a water plant, (Linnsean class, and name not known) in Bengal, is largely imported into the portfc of London and Liverpool, {from Calcutta, and so low a price as £11. per ton. It averages ten feet in length, and but for its being so weak ! in its fibre, has the other lequisites for constituting a valuable article of commerce. It is in much use as a substitute for coarse Russian Flaxes, and as is more frequently the case, is mixed w iih them, such being the fact, and (bearing in mind that the Baltic Flaxes are so cheap, and so easily io be attained, what openiug is there for the New Zealand Flax, as its value and adaptation to useful purposes is at piesent understood. It appears to the meeting that the colonies of Austi alia should themselves attempt the growth of our Flax plant, for which probably their climate is well adapted, and thus produce the raw material, to exchange for the manufactured goods of the United Kingdom, so largely imported to thedifieient ports of New Holland. - The spinning trade of Ireland, and more especially those of England and Scotland, being at present dependent on large supplies of Fku from Belgium, Holland and Russia, tively speaking non-reciprocal countries.) supplies that material as asceitained, and stated before a Committee of the House of Common*, three yeais since, to be about 60,000 tons though geadually decreasing these two jears past, through (lie exertions now making to extend its giowth, and improve the treatment of it in this coiintiy, (the home produce having bten calculated af'the period above mentioned at 25,000 tons), and this at the enormous cost of some four million of specie, taking the very lowest aveiage of £50. per ton, renders it of the utmost importance that Gz eat Biitaiu with her Colonies should exeit themselves to supply the needlul demand. In concluding their observations, the Committee of the Belfast Flax Improvement Society, beg leave to assure the Council of the Ko)<il Agricultural Society for Ireland, that should they favor them with {the charge of any of the plants and seeds to be transmitted to them, they will be taken eveiy care of, and further experiments w ill be instituted on their pioduce, under the auspices of the Society. (Signed) C. G. M. SKINNER, Secretary.